Can a shingles shot help your brain?

Getting the shingles shot when you're 65 or older might help lower your chances of developing dementia by about a third over the next several years.

People who received the shingles vaccine were observed to have a 20% lower rate of dementia diagnosis over seven years, with this effect being more pronounced in women than in men.

People who got the shingles vaccine twice were 27% less likely to develop dementia later on than people who got a different vaccine (Tdap), even after accounting for the fact that healthier people tend to get more vaccines — so the shingles vaccine might be doing something special to protect the brain.

Getting two shots of the shingles vaccine when you're 65 or older might lower your chances of getting dementia by about half, even if you've had shingles before or come from any background — it’s not a guarantee, but studies suggest a strong link.

Getting two shots of the shingles vaccine might help lower your risk of getting dementia, no matter your age, race, or whether dementia is caused by Alzheimer’s or blood vessel problems.